Music box

ABSTRACT

A music box wherein the musical comb operating pins are on the inner surface of a hollow rotating cylinder and the musical comb is mounted within the cylinder whereby the cylinder has a much longer playing surface than a conventional music box of comparable size.

United States Patent [191 111 3,724,316 Kinberg et al. 1 *Apr. 3, 1973 54] MUSIC BOX 2,879,684 3 1959 Ganine ..s4 94 [76] Inventors: Benjamin Kinberg, 425 Riverside Drive, New York, NY. 10006; Richard J. Mayer, 34 Mount Vernon; Bloomfield, NJ. 07003 1 Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Nov. 3, 1988,

has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 794,672

[52] US. Cl ..84/95 [51] Int. Cl ..Gl0f H06 [58] Field of Search ..84/94, 95, 96

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,969,147 8/1934 Paul ..84/95 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [57] ABSTRACT A music box wherein the musical comb operating pins are on the inner surface of a hollow rotating cylinder and the musical comb is mounted within the cylinder whereby the cylinder has a much longer playing surface than a conventional music box of comparable size.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPRB' 197s INVENTORS 1 BENJAMIN KINBERG \\=;t RICHARD J. MAYER MUSIC BOX BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the IN vention The present invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly to an improved music box.

2. Description of the Prior Art The conventional music box as known for the past hundred years comprises a rotating cylinder having musical comb operating pins on its outer surface, and a musical comb mounted exteriorly of the cylinder. In order to mount the cylinder and the comb in a housing of a given size, the diameter of the cylinder was required to be relatively small in comparison with the size of the housing. This restricted the length of the playing surface and the length of the tune played by the music box.

'SUMMARY or THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a music box capable of playing longer tunes than a conventional music box of comparable size.

Another object is to provide such a music box which is capable of playing more than one short tune instead of one lone one.

Another object is to provide such a music box which is simple, inexpensive and durable in construction.

Another object is to provide such a music box which can be operated manually or by means of a motor.

A further object is to provide such a music box which is particularly adapted to be of miniature construction.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are generally accomplished by a music box comprising a housing, a hollow cylinder having musical comb operating pins on the inner surface thereof, a musical comb mounted in the housing and within the cylinder and being operated by the pins, means in the housing for rotatably mounting the cylinder, gear means for effecting rotation of the cylinder, and means for driving the gear means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of a music box in accordance with the present invention with its cover removed.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on FIG. 1 with the cover secured.

FIG. 3 is a sectionaljview taken along the line 33 of FIG; 1. 3

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in detail, there is shown a music box which generally comprises a housing 10, a hollow cylinder 11 in the housing having musical comb operating pins 12 on its inner surface, a musical comb 14 with the cylinder, and an arrangement for effecting rotation of the cylinder indicated in general by the reference numeral 15.

The housing 10 includes a body 16 having a circular bore 17 in which the cylinder 11 is rotatably disposed, a cover 18 and a base 19 respectively secured to the upper and lower end of the housing body. The base has a circular upwardly facing groove 20 for reception of the lower end of the cylinder. If desired, the cover may have a similar but downwardly facing groove for reception of the upper end of the cylinder.

The cylinder 11 is relatively thin but is of sufficient thickness to mount the pins 12 thereon. A row of circumferentially spaced slots 21 is provided adjacent the lower end of the cylinder, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

The comb 14 is mounted on an upright post 22 secured to the base 19 within the cylinder, and is positioned to be operably engaged by the pins 12.

The arrangement 15 includes a large gear 24 having teeth in mesh with the slots 21, a small gear 25 beneath the gear 24, a driving connection 23 between the gears, and a worm gear 26 on a drive shaft 27in mesh with the gear 25.

The gears 24 and 25 are mounted for rotation about a pin 28 with the gear 24 having a sleeve 29 thereon which extends to the underside of the cover 18. The pin 28 is fitted between the cover 18 and the base 19 and its lower end extends into a recess 13 in the base.

The drive shaft 27 is rotatably retained in a channel 30 formed in the base 19 by peened over portions 31 of the base, and is held against longitudinal movement by a washer 32 secured to the inner end of the shaft 27 which engages a stop 34 through which the shaft 27 extends. The gear 25 is disposed in a generally circular recess 33 in the base 19 which has a portion thereof within the channel 30.

The driving connection 23 includes a ring of ratchet teeth 35 on the underside of the gear 24, and one or more pawls 36 on the upper side of the gear 25 which engage the teeth 35 in a manner to drive the gear 24 when the drive shaft 27 is rotated in one direction and to slip over the teeth when the drive shaft is rotated in the opposite direction, whereby rotation of the cylinder 1 1 is confined to a single direction.

The drive shaft 27 extends outwardly of the housing 10 to enable drive means to be connected thereto. The drive means may be a crank 37 as shown or a motor. It is also contemplated that a small motor could be mounted on the base 19 within the cylinder 11 which has a gear on its drive shaft directly in mesh with the slots 21 of the cylinder, whereby the arrangement'lS can be omitted.

As a specific example of the increase in length of the playing surface of the tune cylinder, a conventional miniature music box has a playing surface of about two inches whereas a cylinder in accordance with the present invention having a diameter of about two inches has a playing surface of about six inches. Both music boxes occupy about the same space.

SUMMATION From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved music box.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

We claim:

I. In a music box, the combination of a housing having a base and a cover, a hollow cylinder in said housing and having musical comb operating pins on the inner surface thereof, a musical comb mounted in said housing and operated by said pins, means in said housing for rotatably mounting said cylinder including a circular recess in said base for receiving the lower end of said cylinder and said cover for engaging the upper end of said cylinder, gear means for effecting rotation of said cylinder'including circumferentially spaced slots in said cylinder and a gear in mesh with said slots, and means for driving said gear means.

2. In a music box according to claim 1, wherein said gear means further include a second gear connected for rotating said first mentioned gear and a worm gear in mesh with said second gear driven by said drive means.

3. In a music box according to claim 2, wherein said gear means include a post on said first mentioned gear rotatably mounted on a shaft restrained between said base and said cover means.

4. In a music box according to claim 3, wherein said gears are connected by ratchet means for confining rotation of said cylinder in a single direction.

5. In a music box according to claim 4, wherein said worm gear is rotatably mounted in a recess in said base and is restrained against lateral and longitudinal mountings.

6. In a music box according to claim 5, wherein said second gear is disposed in a recess in said base.

7. In a music box according to claim 6, wherein said housing has a cylindrical inner wall for confining the outer wall of said cylinder for rotation therein. 

1. In a music box, the combination of a housing having a base and a cover, a hollow cylinder in said housing and having musical comb operating pins on the inner surface thereof, a musical comb mounted in said housing and operated by said pins, means in said housing for rotatably mounting said cylinder including a circular recess in said base for receiving the lower end of said cylinder and said cover for engaging the upper end of said cylinder, gear means for effecting rotation of said cylinder including circumferentially spaced slots in said cylinder and a gear in mesh with said slots, and means for driving said gear means.
 2. In a music box according to claim 1, wherein said gear means further include a second gear connected for rotating said first mentioned gear and a worm gear in mesh with said second gear driven by said drive means.
 3. In a music box according to claim 2, wherein said gear means include a post on said first mentioned gear rotatably mounted on a shaft restrained between said base and said cover means.
 4. In a music box accorDing to claim 3, wherein said gears are connected by ratchet means for confining rotation of said cylinder in a single direction.
 5. In a music box according to claim 4, wherein said worm gear is rotatably mounted in a recess in said base and is restrained against lateral and longitudinal mountings.
 6. In a music box according to claim 5, wherein said second gear is disposed in a recess in said base.
 7. In a music box according to claim 6, wherein said housing has a cylindrical inner wall for confining the outer wall of said cylinder for rotation therein. 